Foot operated snivel suction device

ABSTRACT

A snivel suction device includes a base, two pumps, two pistons, two piston rods, a pedal and two casings. Two valve bodies are connected to the pumps and each valve body is connected to a suction pipe and a release pipe. The two suction pipes are connected to a suction manifold and the two release pipes are connected to a release manifold. A release valve is fixed to one of the casings and connected between the suction manifold and one of the suction pipes. The release valve has a knob, an adjustment member, a bolt, a valve, a spring, a block and a sound member. By operating the two ends of the pedal alternatively, the two pumps are operated to suck and release air. When sucking the snivel and the suction pipe contacting the nasal mucosa, the release valve releases the pressure to protect the user&#39;s nasal mucosa.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a snivel suction device, and more particularly, to a snivel suction device operated by a foot and having a pressure releasing valve to protect the user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The conventional snivel suction device for sucking snivel or sputum is disclosed in Taiwan Publish No. M425181 and the suction device is also used as a pump to inflate objects. The conventional snivel suction device generally comprises a body with a support frame at the center thereof The support frame has a pivotal portion. A pedal is pivotably connected to the top of the body and is pivotably connected to the pivotal portion by a pivot. Two push members extend from the underside of the pedal. Two pumps are located in the body and each pump has a piston which is connected to a piston rod which is pivotably connected to the push member. Two check valves are connected to the underside of each pump. A suction pipe and a release pipe are respectively connected to the two check valves. A suction manifold is connected between the two suction pipes, and a release manifold is connected between the two release pipes. A suction outer tube is connected to the suction manifold. An input outer pipe is connected to the release manifold. The user operates two ends of the pedal which is pivoted about the middle portion thereof which is pivotably connected to the support frame, and the two pistons of the two pumps are alternatively operated and cooperated with the check valves so as to continuously suck or release air.

However, when the suction device is used to suck snivel, the suction outer tube that s connected to the suction manifold is attached to the nasal mucosa because of unintentional operation, and the user does not notice this situation so that the suction action continues to cause the inner pressure in the suction pipe higher than expected. The high pressure can easily damage the nasal mucosa.

The present invention intends to provide a snivel suction device that improves the shortcomings mentioned above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a snivel suction device and comprises a base having two pimps connected thereto and each pump has a protrusion extending from the inner end thereof. A valve body is connected to the outside of each of the pumps and communicates with through hole the valve body. Each valve body has a suction check valve and a release check valve. A suction manifold and a release manifold are connected to the base. The suction manifold has two suction pipes respectively connected to two respective openings of the two suction check valves of the valve bodies. The release manifold has two release pipes respectively connected to two respective openings of the two release check valves of the valve bodies.

Two pistons are respectively located in the two pumps and each of the two pistons has a piston rod connected thereto. A pedal is pivotably connected to the two piston rods and two grasp holes are defined in two ends of the pedal. Two pivots are connected to two sides of the pedal.

Two casings are connected to the base and cover up the two pumps. Each casing has a notch and the two piston rods extend through the two notches. Each of the two casings has a lug and each lug has a pivotal hole. The pivots extend through the two pivotal hole to pivotably connect the pedal to the lugs of the casings. One of the casings has a suction hole which is located corresponding to the suction manifold. The other casing has a release hole which is located corresponding to the release manifold. The casing has a suction hole has a ventilation hole which is located above the suction hole.

A release valve is fixed to the inside of the casing that has the suction hole and the release valve is connected between the suction manifold and one of the suction pipes. The release valve has a knob, an adjustment member, a bolt, a valve, a spring, a block and a sound member. The knob is fixed in the ventilation hole and has multiple position members and extensions. The adjustment member is located in the knob and has multiple protrusions. The extensions of the knob extend through the protrusions of the adjustment member. The adjustment member has at least one guide slot defined inclinedly in the wall thereof. The at least one guide slot has multiple positioning recesses. The adjustment member has a tube. An annular slot is defined between the tube and the inside of the adjustment Member. The tube has a seal ring mounted thereto. A passage is defined in the tube and inner threads are defined in the inner periphery of one end thereof. The bolt is threadedly connected to the inner threads. The valve has the first end thereof located in the annular slot of the adjustment member, and the second end of the valve is narrowed and connected with a tubular portion. The valve has a space defined therein which extends to the narrowed second end of the valve. At least one positioning part is connected to the outside of the valve and located in the at least one guide slot of the adjustment member. Two connection tubes are connected to the outside of the valve and each have a through hole which communicates with the space of the valve. The spring is connected between the bolt in the through hole of the adjustment member and the block in the space of the valve. The block is located in the narrow second end of the valve. The sound member is connected to the tubular portion of the valve and has a hollow room defined therein. A mounting tube is formed on the inside of the sound member and mounted to the tubular portion of the valve. A hole is defined in the inside of the mounting tube and communicates with the room in the sound member. An inlet hole is defined in the outside of the sound member which communicates with the room.

Preferably, a pad is connected to the underside of the base.

Preferably, each of the two ends of the pedal extends an angle from the body of the pedal.

Preferably, the bolt of the release valve has an end piece extending from the first end thereof and a slot is defined in the second end of the bolt.

Preferably, the release valve has multiple fixing lugs and each fixing lug has a hole. The fixing lugs are fixed to the casings by securing members.

Preferably, the block of the release valve has a curved face formed on the first end thereof and a protrusion extends from the second end of the block. The curved face contacts the inside of the narrow second end of the valve to seal the space, and the spring contacts the protrusion of the block.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a snivel suction device which does not need electric power and can continuously suck and release air. When the suction pressure is too high and may injure the nasal mucosa, the release valve releases the pressure and the sound member generates warning sound to acknowledge the user to adjust the suction pressure or to check if incorrect operation action is taken to protect the user.

The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view to show the snivel suction device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view to show the snivel suction device of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view to show the combination of the pumps, the release valve, the suction pipe, the suction manifold, the release pipe, and the release manifold of the snivel suction device of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view to show the release valve of the snivel suction device of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is another exploded view to show the release valve of the snivel suction device of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view to show the release valve of the snivel suction device of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view to show the release valve of the snivel suction device of the present invention;

FIG. 8 shows that the release valve is activate to release pressure when one end of the suction pipe is blocked;

FIG. 9 shows the operation status of the release valve of the snivel suction device of the present invention, and

FIG. 10 shows the adjustment to the release pressure of the release valve of the snivel suction device of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 9, the snivel suction device of the present invention comprises a base 1 having two pimps 10, 10 connected thereto and each pump 10/10′ has a protrusion 100/100′ extending from the inner end thereof. A valve body 11/11′ is connected to the outside of each of the pumps 10, 10′ and communicates with a through hole 101/101′ of the valve body 11/11′. Each valve body 11/11′ has a suction check valve 110/110′ and a release check valve 111/111′ as shown in FIG. 9. A suction manifold 12 and a release manifold 13 are connected to the base 1, wherein the suction manifold 12 has two suction pipes 14, 14′ respectively connected to two respective openings of the two suction check valves 110, 110′ of the valve bodies 11, 11′. The release manifold 13 has two release pipes 15, 15′ respectively connected to two respective openings of the two release check valves 111, 111′ of the valve bodies 11, 11′. An anti-slip pad 16 is connected to each of four corners of the underside of the base 1.

Two pistons 2, 2′ are respectively located in the two pumps 10, 10′ and each of the two pistons 2, 2′ has a piston rod 20/20′ connected thereto. A pedal 21 is pivotably connected to the two piston rods 20, 20′ and two grasp holes 22 are defined in two ends of the pedal 21. Each of the two ends of the pedal 21 extends an angle from the body of the pedal 21. Two pivots 23 are connected to two sides of the pedal 21.

Two casings 3, 3′ are connected to the base 1 so as to cover up the two pumps 10, 10 and the two pistons 2, 2′. Each casing 3/3′ has a notch 30/30′ and the two piston rods 20, 20′ extend through the two notches 30, 30′. Each of the two casings 3, 3′ has a lug 31/31′ and each lug 31/31′ has a pivotal hole 310/310′. The pivots 23, 23′ of the pedal 21 extend through the two pivotal hole 310, 310′ so as to pivotably connect the pedal 21 to the lugs 31, 31′ of the casings 3, 3′. The casings 3 has a suction hole 32 which is located corresponding to the suction manifold 12, and the other casing 3′ has a release hole 33 which is located corresponding to the release manifold 13. A ventilation hole 34 is defined in the casing 3 having the suction hole 32 and the ventilation hole 34 is located above the suction hole 32.

A release valve 4 is fixed to the inside of the casing 3 that has the suction hole 32, and the release valve 4 connected between the suction manifold 12 and the suction pipe 14. The release valve 4 has a knob 40, an adjustment member 41, a bolt 42, a valve 43, a spring 44, a block 45 and a sound member 46 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, wherein the knob 40 is fixed in the ventilation hole 34 and has multiple position members 400 and extensions 401. The adjustment member 41 is located in the knob 40 and has multiple protrusions 410. The extensions 401 of the knob 40 extend through the protrusions 410 of the adjustment member 41. The adjustment member 41 has two guide slots 411 defined inclinedly in the wall thereof. Each of the guide slots 411 has multiple positioning recesses 412. The adjustment member 41 has a tube 413, and an annular slot 414 is defined between the tube 413 and the inside of the adjustment member 41. The tube 413 has a seal ring 415 mounted thereto. A passage 416 is defined in the tube 413 and inner threads 417 are defined in the inner periphery of one end thereof. The bolt 42 is threadedly connected to the inner threads 417. The valve 43 has the first end thereof located in the annular slot 414 of the adjustment member 41, and the second end of the valve 43 is narrowed and connected with a tubular portion 430. The valve 43 has a space 431 defined therein which extends to the narrowed second end of the valve 43. Two positioning parts 432 are connected to the outside of the valve 43 and located in the two guide slots 411 of the adjustment member 41. Two connection tubes 433 are connected to the outside of the valve 43 and each have a through hole 434 which communicates with the space 431 of the valve 43. The release valve 4 has multiple fixing lugs 435 and each fixing lug 435 has a hole 436. The fixing lugs 435 are fixed to the casings 3, 3′ by securing members 437. The spring 44 is connected between the bolt 42 in the through hole 434 of the adjustment member 41 and the block 45 in the space 431 of the valve 43. The block 45 is located in the narrow second end of the space 431 of the valve 43. The block 45 of the release valve 4 has a curved face 450 formed on the first end thereof and a protrusion 451 extends from the second end of the block 45. The sound member 46 is connected to the tubular portion 430 of the valve 43 and has a hollow room 460 defined therein. A mounting tube 461 is formed on the inside of the sound member 46 and mounted to the tubular portion 430 of the valve 43. A hole 462 is defined in the inside of the mounting tube 461 and communicates with the room 460 in the sound member 46. An inlet hole 463 is defined in the outside of the sound member 46 which communicates with the room 460.

As shown in FIG. 9, when in use, the user operates the two ends of the pedal 21 alternatively so that the pedal 21 is pivoted to alternatively operate the two pumps 20, 20′. The two pistons 2, 2′ are alternatively moved in the two pumps 20, 20′ and cooperated with the two suction check valves 110, 110′ and the two release check valves 111, 111′ to such and release the air. When sucking the air, the suction manifold 12 sucks the air outside the pumps 10, 10′ into the pumps 10, 10′, and when releasing the air, the release pipes 15, 15′ release the air in the pumps 10, 10′ out via, the release manifold 13. By this way, the user continuously operates the pedal 21, the air is sucked in and released out continuously.

The suction pipe 5 is connected between the section manifold 12 of the suction hole 32 of the casing 3 and a collection cup 50 as shown in FIG. 9. The collection cup 50 has a suction member 51 which is inserted into the nose of the user and the pedal 21 is then operated as mentioned to let the suction manifold 12 to suck air, the snivel is sucked via the suction member 51 and collected in the collection cup 50. When the suction member 51 is in contact with the nasal mucosa and the suction manifold 12 is blocked as shown in FIG. 8, if the pedal 21 is continuously operated, the pumps 10, 10′ will suck air into the pumps 10, 10′ via the suction pipe 14, and the suction pressure in the suction pipes 14, 14′ will be too high. The suction pipe 14 is connected with the release valve 4, because no air is sucked into the pumps 10, 10′ via the suction manifold 12, so that the outside air is sucked into the space 460 via the inlet hole 463 of the sound member 46 of the release valve 4. The air then enters into the tubular portion 430 of the valve 43 via the hole 462, and pushes the block 45 in the space 431 so that the curved face 450 of the block 45 is removed from the inside of the space 431 of the valve 43 and the block 45 no longer seals the space 431. Air can enter the space 431 and pushes the block 45 to compress the spring 44. The air entering the space 431 of the valve 43 via the inlet hole 463 enters into the pumps 10, 10′ via the suction pipe 14. When the air is sucked into the valve 43 via the space 460, sound is generated to acknowledge the user that the release valve 4 starts to release pressure and this means that the suction pressure in the suction pipe 14 is too high. The user then has to check whether the suction member 51 is in contact with the nasal mucosa to block the suction manifold 12 or the like. If the user continuously sucks air when the suction member 51 is in contact with the nasal mucosa, by the release valve 4, the user's nasal mucosa is not injured. When the block problem of the suction manifold is cleared, such as the suction member 51 is not in contact with the nasal mucosa, or the suction pressure in the suction pipe 14 is reduced, the spring 44 bounces back and pushes the block 45 to the inside of the narrow second end of the space 431 of the valve 43. The suction manifold 12 can start to suck air again.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, the suction pressure can be adjusted according to the practical needs. When the snivel suction device is used to an infant, the knob 40 is rotated, the extensions 401 on the knob 40 rotate the protrusions 410 of the adjustment member 41 which is moved toward the knob 40. The tension of the spring 44 in the space 431 of the valve 43 is reduced. The positioning parts 432 on the valve 43 move in the guide slots 411 of the adjustment member 41. When the knob 40 is rotated to the desired position to have the proper suction pressure, the positioning parts 432 are engaged with the positioning recesses 412 of the guide slots 411 of the adjustment member 41. The user then can start to suck the snivel. As shown in FIG. 10, when the suction pressure needs to be increased when using the suction device to an adult, the knob 40 is rotated and the knob 41 is moved toward the valve 43. The tension of the spring 44 in the space 431 of the valve 43 is increased by the bolt 42 in the adjustment member 41. Therefore, a higher suction pressure is required to compress the spring 44. The suction pressure is then can easily adjusted by rotating the knob 40.

While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A snivel suction device comprising: a base having two pimps connected thereto and each pump having a protrusion extending from an inner end thereof, a valve body connected to an outside of each of the pumps and communicating with a through hole of the valve body, each valve body having a suction check valve and a release check valve, a suction manifold and a release manifold connected to the base, the suction manifold having two suction pipes respectively connected to two respective openings of the two suction check valves of the valve bodies, the release manifold having two release pipes respectively connected to two respective openings of the two release check valves of the valve bodies; two pistons s respectively located in the two pumps and each of the two pistons having a piston rod connected thereto, a pedal pivotably connected to the two piston rods and two grasp holes defined in two ends of the pedal, two pivots connected to two sides of the pedal; two casings connected to the base and covering up the two pumps, each casing having a notch and the two piston rods extending through the two notches, each of the two casings having a lug and each lug having a pivotal hole, the pivots extending through the two pivotal hole so as to pivotably connect the pedal to the lugs of the casings, one of the casings having a suction hole which is located corresponding to the suction manifold, the other casing having a release hole which is located corresponding o the release manifold, a ventilation hole defined in the casing having the suction hole and the ventilation hole located above the suction hole, and a release valve fixed to an inside of the casing that has the suction hole, the release valve connected between the suction manifold and one of the suction pipes, the release valve having a knob, an adjustment member, a bolt, a valve, a spring, a block and a sound member, the knob fixed in the ventilation hole and having multiple position members and extensions, the adjustment member located in the knob and having multiple protrusions, the extensions of the knob extending through the protrusions of the adjustment member, the adjustment member having at least one guide slot defined inclinedly in a wall thereof, the at least one guide slot having multiple positioning recesses, the adjustment member having a tube, an annular slot defined between the tube and an inside of the adjustment member, the tube having a seal ring mounted thereto, a passage defined in the tube and inner threads defined in an inner periphery of one end thereof, the bolt threadedly connected to the inner threads, the valve having a first end located in the annular slot of the adjustment member, a second end of the valve being narrowed and connected with a tubular portion, the valve having a space defined therein which extends to the narrowed second end of the valve, at least one positioning part connected to outside of the valve and located in the at least one guide slot of the adjustment member, two connection tubes connected to the outside of the valve and each having a through hole which communicates with the space of the valve, the spring connected between the bolt in the through hole of the adjustment member and the block in the space of the valve, the block located in the narrow second end of the valve, the sound member connected to the tubular portion of the valve and having a hollow room defined therein, a mounting tube formed on an inside of the sound member and mounted to the tubular portion of the valve, a hole defined in an inside of the mounting tube and communicating with the room in the sound member, an inlet hole defined in an outside of the sound member which communicates with the room.
 2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a pad is connected to an underside of the base.
 3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the two ends of the pedal extends an angle from a body of the pedal.
 4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bolt of the release valve has an end piece extending from a first end thereof and a slot is defined in a second end of the bolt.
 5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the release valve has multiple fixing lugs and each fixing lug has a hole, the fixing lugs are fixed to the casings by securing members.
 6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the block of the release valve has a curved face formed on a first end thereof and a protrusion extends from a second end of the block. 